Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Storage Medium Storing Print Control Program, Terminal Device, and Print Control Method

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2024-228616, filed Dec. 25, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a print control program, a terminal device, and a print control method.

JP-A-2006-65791 describes a technique for a registrant who has registered file information (document) to grasp a print status (unprinted/printed) of a user of the file information.

A technique capable of providing information on printing to another device in an environment in which a terminal device causes a print apparatus to perform printing by using a general-purpose printer driver has been desired.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores a print control program that causes a computer to function as a first processing section that transmits, in response to a print request for print target data, first data in a first data format generated based on the print target data to a print apparatus, and a second processing section that transmits second data to a print information management server in response to the print request, the second data being generated based on the print target data and being in a second data format having a smaller data size than the first data.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a terminal device includes a first processing section that transmits, in response to a print request for print target data, first data in a first data format generated based on the print target data to a print apparatus, and a second processing section that transmits second data to a print information management server in response to the print request, the second data being generated based on the print target data and being in a second data format having a smaller data size than the first data.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a print control method includes transmitting from a first processing section, in response to a print request for print target data, first data in a first data format generated based on the print target data to a print apparatus, and transmitting from a second processing section, second data to a print information management server in response to the print request, the second data being generated based on the print target data and being in a second data format having a smaller data size than the first data.

1 Configuration of Print System 1-1 Configuration of Print Apparatus 1-2 Configuration of Print Information Management Server 1-3 Configuration of Terminal Device 2 Print Sequence 3 Other Embodiments Here, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in the following order.

1 FIG. 100 100 200 300 100 100 200 300 100 300 121 100 300 1 121 300 300 1 200 2 3 121 1 300 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a print system including a terminal deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The print system includes the terminal device, a print information management server, and a print apparatus. The terminal deviceis an information processing apparatus having a communication function, such as a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, or a tablet terminal, and is an apparatus used by a user who requests printing. The terminal devicecan communicate with the print information management serverand the print apparatusvia a network N, such as a LAN or the Internet. When the user operates the terminal deviceto request the print apparatusto perform printing of print target data, the terminal devicetransmits to the print apparatusfirst data Dobtained by converting the print target datainto a format suitable for printing by the print apparatus, and the print apparatusperforms printing based on the first data D. The print information management serveraccumulates the second data Dand the third data Dgenerated by converting the print target data, which is a conversion source of the first data Dand which is image data representing a printed matter in the print apparatus. Hereinafter, configurations of the individual devices will be described.

300 310 320 330 340 350 310 300 320 310 300 310 The print apparatusincludes a processor, a storage medium, a communication section, a UI section, and a print section. The processorincludes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM (not illustrated), and controls the individual sections of the print apparatusby executing a control program stored in the storage medium. Note that the processormay be configured by a single chip, may be configured by a plurality of chips, or may be configured as an SoC together with various functional blocks for operating the print apparatus. Furthermore, an ASIC may be employed instead of the CPU, or the CPU and the ASIC may cooperate with each other. When each of the devices according to this embodiment includes a processor, the processor may be realized in various forms, similarly to the processor.

320 310 1 100 330 300 100 330 340 The storage mediumstores various programs to be executed by the processorand control data. In addition, in an operation process of the print system, first data Dwhich is a print target transmitted from the terminal deviceis stored. The communication sectionincludes a circuit used for communication with other devices in accordance with various wired or wireless communication protocols. In this embodiment, the print apparatuscan communicate with the terminal devicevia the communication section. The UI sectionincludes a touch panel display and keys for displaying various types of information to a user and inputting a user operation.

350 300 310 350 350 The print sectionincludes an actuator, a driving component, a mechanical component, and various sensors for detecting a state of the print apparatusin order to execute printing by discharging ink onto a print medium. Examples of the sensors include a sensor that detects the number of remaining print media, a sensor that detects clogging in a transport path of print media, and a sensor that detects an amount of remaining ink. The processorexecutes printing by controlling the print sectionbased on the print data. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the print sectionperforms printing by an ink jet method, but the printing method is not limited thereto.

1 100 330 310 350 1 310 300 100 330 100 100 300 100 310 100 100 100 100 300 100 100 100 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 100 300 100 100 When receiving the first data D, which is print data, from the terminal devicevia the communication section, the processorcontrols the print sectionbased on the first data Dand executes printing. In addition, the processorcan transmit information indicating progress and success/failure of the print job and a state of the print apparatusto the terminal devicevia the communication section. The information indicating the progress is used by the terminal deviceto determine what degree a print job requested by the terminal deviceto the print apparatushas progressed. For example, when printing in units of pages transmitted from the terminal deviceis completed, the processornotifies the terminal deviceof information indicating the progress of a print job by transmitting information indicating that the printing of the pages is completed to the terminal device. The information indicating the success/failure of printing is used by the terminal deviceto determine whether printing of the print job requested by the terminal deviceto the print apparatushas been completed without an error up to a final page. For example, as in the case of the above-described progress, when the printing in units of pages transmitted from the terminal deviceis completed, the information indicating that the printing of in units of pages is completed is transmitted to the terminal device, and thus the terminal devicecan acquire that the printing in units of pages is completed using the information, and can regard that the printing has been successfully performed when the printing of the last page of the print job is completed. Moreover, the information indicating the state of the print apparatusis information that can be detected by the various sensors included in the print apparatusor a processing state of the print apparatuswhich is managed by the control program of the print apparatus, for example. More specifically, for example, the information includes information on run-out of print media, information on run-out of ink, and a state in which the print medium is jammed. The information indicating the state of the print apparatusmay further include information indicating that the printing is in progress or indicating a standby state while the above-described errors that prevent execution of printing do not occur. The information indicating the progress and success/failure of the print job and the state of the print apparatusmay be transmitted from the print apparatusto the terminal devicewhen the progress, success/failure, or the state changes, or the print apparatusmay return the information to the terminal devicein response to an inquiry from the terminal device.

200 210 220 230 210 100 400 230 210 220 The print information management serveris a server computer including a processor, a storage medium, and a communication section. In this embodiment, the processorcan communicate with the terminal deviceor a second terminal deviceto be described later via the communication section. The processorcan execute various programs including a print information management program stored in the storage medium.

210 300 100 220 220 2 3 By executing the print information management program, the processoracquires various types of print information related to printing performed by the print apparatusfrom the terminal device, and stores the print information in the storage medium. The print information stored in the storage mediumincludes second data Dand third data D.

210 2 3 400 400 400 2 3 200 300 Furthermore, the processorexecutes the print information management program to transmit the second data Dand the third data Dto the second terminal devicein response to a browsing request issued by the second terminal devicedescribed later. The second terminal devicedisplays the second data Dand the third data Dacquired from the print information management serveron a display section to allow the user to view an image representing a printed matter in the print apparatusas electronic data.

100 110 120 130 140 110 112 113 120 111 The terminal deviceis a computer including a processor, a storage medium, a communication section, and a UI section. The processorcan execute programs, such as an operating system (OS), a general-purpose printer driver, and a support Appstored in the storage medium, and various application programs including an application.

120 120 112 113 111 120 111 121 The storage mediumis a storage device, such as a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, or another memory. The storage mediumstores various programs including the OS, the general-purpose printer driver, the support App, and the application. The storage mediumstores various files that can be displayed or edited by the applicationor the like. The various files may be print target data.

130 100 200 300 130 The communication sectionincludes a communication interface that performs communication with other devices in accordance with various wired or wireless protocols. In this embodiment, the terminal devicecan communicate with the print information management serverand the print apparatusvia the communication section.

140 130 110 The UI sectionincludes a display and keys. Furthermore, a device, such as a mouse, may be connected via the communication section. Moreover, the display may be a touch panel display. The processordisplays various types of information on the display and receives an operation performed on an input section, such as the keys, the mouse, or the touch panel.

112 112 112 The general-purpose printer driveris an OS-standard printer driver and is provided by a vendor that provides the OS. For example, the general-purpose printer driveris a standard printer driver for the Windows® OS. The general-purpose printer driveris a program capable of causing various types of print apparatus to execute printing.

113 112 110 113 113 The support Appas a print control program is an application program for assisting the general-purpose printer driverand causing the processorto execute print control suitable for the capabilities of a target print apparatus or print control for realizing a vendor-specific function of the print apparatus. The support Appis provided by a vendor of the print apparatus or the like. The support Appis also called a Print Support Application (PSA).

110 113 113 113 113 110 1 121 300 121 113 112 300 121 121 300 300 121 113 110 300 112 1 1 300 300 300 1 112 113 113 a b a a The processorfunctions as a first processing sectionand a second processing sectionby executing the support App. The function of the first processing sectioncauses the processorto transmit the first data Dof a first data format generated based on the print target data, to the print apparatusin response to a print request for the print target data. In a case where the support Appis not used, the general-purpose printer drivergenerates print data for causing the print apparatusto execute printing of the print target databased on the print target dataand transmits the print data to the print apparatusso as to cause the print apparatusto execute printing of the print target data. In this embodiment, the function of the first processing sectionenables the processorto perform processing for realizing a unique function of the print apparatuson the print data generated by the general-purpose printer driver(or intermediate data generated in the process of generating the print data) to generate the first data Dand transmit the first data Dto the print apparatus. The print apparatuscan execute printing reflecting the unique function of the print apparatusbased on the first data D. Therefore, the general-purpose printer drivercan activate the support Appand perform data transmission and reception with the support App.

113 121 110 200 2 121 1 110 2 121 1 121 2 200 2 3 200 b Furthermore, the function of the second processing sectioncauses, in response to the print request for the print target data, the processorto transmit, to the print information management server, the second data Dof a second data format that is generated based on the print target dataand that has a smaller data size than the first data D. That is, the processorgenerates the second data Dfor browsing the print target databased on intermediate data generated in the process of generating the first data Dfrom the print target data, and transmits the second data Dto the print information management server. Note that, in this embodiment, in addition to the second data D, the third data D, which is thumbnail image data, is also generated and transmitted to the print information management server.

110 200 2 110 200 300 2 2 200 1 200 1 200 Therefore, according to this embodiment, the processorcan cause the print information management serverto acquire the second data Din accordance with the print control program. As a result, the processorwhich executes the print control program can cause the print information management serverto realize an information providing service relating to printing in the print apparatususing the second data D. Furthermore, the second data Dtransmitted to the print information management serveris smaller in size than the first data D, and therefore, an amount of data stored in the print information management servercan be reduced compared to when the first data Dis transmitted to the print information management server.

Hereinafter, a print sequence in this embodiment will be described in detail.

2 FIG. 2 FIG. 111 112 113 110 100 111 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a print sequence according to this embodiment. In, processes of the application, the general-purpose printer driver, and the support Appare executed by the processorof the terminal device. The applicationis an application program that can print display data of an opened file, and may be, for example, a document generation application.

111 111 110 112 111 121 110 112 300 112 111 111 105 110 115 When the user opens a file with the applicationand selects printing from a menu of the application, the processortransmits a print request to the general-purpose printer driver. The file opened by the applicationcorresponds to the print target data. The processorexecuting the general-purpose printer driverreceives the print request and displays a setting section for selecting a print apparatus as an output destination, designating a page to be printed, setting the number of copies to be printed, and the like. When the user selects the print apparatusas an output destination, makes other settings, and selects execution of printing, the general-purpose printer driveracquires, from the application, data in a graphics device interface (GDI) format representing an image of the file opened by the application(step S), converts the data in the GDI format into data in an XML paper specification (XPS) format (step S), and spools the data in the converted XPS format in a storage medium (step S).

110 113 113 120 125 2 3 3 121 1 b The processorthat executes the support Appacquires the spooled data in the XPS format by a function of the second processing section(step S), converts the data in the XPS format into data in the PDF format, and generates thumbnail image data (step S). The data in the PDF format as the second data Dis vector data in a vector format as a second data format. The thumbnail image data corresponds to the third data D. In this embodiment, the third data Dis raster data generated based on the print target dataand is lower-resolution raster data than the first data D.

110 113 2 3 200 113 130 200 220 200 2 3 113 100 135 200 2 3 220 b The processorexecuting the support Apptransmits the generated data in the PDF format (second data D) and the thumbnail image data (third data D) to the print information management serverby the function of the second processing section(step S). The print information management serverstores, in the storage mediumof the print information management server, the second data Din the PDF format and the third data Dwhich is the thumbnail image data that are acquired from the support Appof the terminal device(step S). That is, the print information management serverstores the received second data Dand the received third data Din the storage mediumin association with each other.

115 110 112 140 110 113 113 140 112 300 110 145 1 150 1 On the other hand, when the data in the XPS format is spooled in step S, the processorexecuting the general-purpose printer driverconverts the data in the XPS format into data in a page description language (PDL) format (step S). The data in the PDL format is raster data in a raster format (first data format). The processorexecuting the support Appdisplays a UI screen of the support Appon the display of the UI sectionwhen acquiring the data in the PDL format generated by the general-purpose printer driver. On the UI screen, the user can select whether to apply a watermark function and other functions of the print apparatus, for example. When the user selects one of these functions, the processormodifies the data in the PDL format obtained in step Sto reflect the function selected by the user, and generates final data in the PDL format (Final PDL) as the first data D(step S). The final data in the PDL format as the first data Dis raster data in a raster format (first data format).

140 145 112 113 120 150 150 110 1 300 155 1 300 350 1 160 1 300 112 Note that the process in step Sand step Sin the general-purpose printer drivermay be skipped, and the support Appmay generate the final data in the PDL format (Final PDL) based on the data in the XPS format acquired in step S(step S). In any case, after performing step S, the processortransmits the final data in the PDL format as the first data Dto the print apparatusselected as the output destination by the user (step S). When receiving the first data D, the print apparatuscontrols the print sectionto perform printing based on the first data D(step S). Note that the final data in the PDL format (Final PDL) as the first data Dmay be transmitted to the print apparatusvia the general-purpose printer driver.

3 FIG. 2 FIG. 2 FIG. 3 FIG. 2 FIG. 2 3 200 135 125 135 400 2 300 200 400 2 2 is a continuation of the sequence illustrated in, and is a sequence illustrating an example of utilization of the second data Dand the third data Daccumulated in the print information management serverafter step Sin. A process in step Sto step Sinis the same process as the process of the same symbols in. The second terminal deviceis used to view the second data Dindicating an image of a printed matter printed by the print apparatusand accompanying print information, which are accumulated in the print information management server, and a browsing application for browsing the information is installed in the second terminal device. The browsing application may have not only a function of browsing the second data Dbut also a function of adding data, such as a tag or a memo handwritten by the user to the second data D.

400 300 400 100 400 400 The second terminal devicemay be, for example, a terminal operated by an administrator of the print apparatus. Alternatively, the second terminal devicemay be another terminal operated by a user who has requested printing from the terminal device. The second terminal devicemay be a PC, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone. The second terminal deviceincludes a processor, a storage medium, a communication section, and a touch panel display, which are not illustrated.

200 2 3 135 200 400 2 3 200 400 When the print information management serverstores the data in the PDF format as the second data Dand the thumbnail image data as the third data Din step S, the print information management servernotifies the second terminal devicethat the second data Dand the third data Dhave been newly added (step S). For example, a push notification to the browsing application of the second terminal deviceis executed.

200 400 200 400 400 200 205 400 200 400 200 205 200 2 3 400 In response to the notification in step S, for example, when the user of the second terminal deviceinstructs to synchronize the data stored in the print information management serverwith the data of the second terminal device, the second terminal devicerequests the print information management serverfor the newly added data using the browsing application (step S). The second terminal devicerequests the print information management serverto transmit data which is not stored in the second terminal deviceand is stored in the print information management server. In response to the request in step S, the print information management servertransmits the newly added data in the PDF format as the second data Dand the newly added thumbnail image data as the third data Dto the second terminal device.

2 3 210 400 400 215 2 3 220 200 2 3 400 400 2 3 121 2 400 When receiving the second data Dand the third data Din step S, the second terminal devicestores the received data in the storage medium of the second terminal device(step S). As a result, the second data Dand the third data Dstored in the storage mediumof the print information management serverare synchronized with the second data Dand the third data Dstored in the storage medium of the second terminal device. Note that, in the second terminal device, the second data Dand the third data Dgenerated based on the print target datawhich is a generation source of the second data Dare also stored in the storage medium of the second terminal devicein association with each other.

400 300 3 400 220 3 1 3 3 3 400 113 3 1 200 400 Subsequently, the second terminal devicedisplays a list of thumbnail images of printed matters in the print apparatusby using the thumbnail image data as the third data Dstored in the storage medium of the second terminal device(step S). Since the third data Dis raster data having a lower definition than the first data D, a drawing processing time for displaying the third data Don the screen can be reduced compared to a case where the third data Dis not low-definition data or a case where the third data Dis not raster data. In the configuration in which the thumbnail images are used in the browsing application of the second terminal device, the support Apphas a function of accumulating the third data Dhaving a lower definition than the first data Din the print information management server, and thus it is possible to improve convenience in the second terminal device.

300 3 400 225 400 400 2 3 2 400 400 113 2 200 The thumbnails are displayed for individual print jobs. For example, in an initial state, a thumbnail of a top page in a print job is displayed. In a case where a plurality of print jobs have already been executed in the print apparatus, a plurality of thumbnails are displayed as a list. When the user selects a thumbnail image of the third data Dto be checked in detail from the list, the second terminal deviceperforms detailed display (step S). That is, the second terminal devicedisplays an image on the display of the second terminal devicebased on the second data Dcorresponding to the selected third data D. The second data Dis vector data in this embodiment. Therefore, for example, when the user performs an operation of enlarging or reducing an image, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the display image after the enlargement or reduction from being deteriorated. In the configuration in which an image indicating a printed matter can be viewed in detail in the browsing application of the second terminal device, the convenience of the second terminal devicecan be improved since the support Apphas the function of accumulating the second data D, which is vector data, in the print information management server. Note that when one or more pages are included in one print job, the detailed display is also performed in a mode indicating that these pages belong to the same print job.

200 400 2 200 400 Note that step Smay be omitted. In other words, the user of the second terminal devicemay start the browsing application at an arbitrary timing, issue an instruction to acquire latest data at an arbitrary timing, acquire the print information including the second data Dstored in the print information management server, and browse the print information on the second terminal device.

4 FIG. 2 FIG. 2 FIG. 160 300 160 300 113 100 300 300 112 113 112 is a continuation of the sequence illustrated in, and is a sequence illustrating an example of processing after step Sin. When the print apparatusexecutes printing in step S, the print apparatustransmits information indicating a print result to the support Appof the terminal device(step S). The information indicating the print result may be transmitted from the print apparatusto the general-purpose printer driver, and the support Appmay acquire the information indicating the print result from the general-purpose printer driver.

300 300 The information indicating the print result includes information indicating success or failure of the printing. Furthermore, the information indicating the print result includes information indicating a state of the print apparatus. For example, in a case where printing fails due to an error, such as a shortage of the number of remaining print media, clogging of a print medium, or a shortage of an amount of remaining ink, information indicating these errors is notified as information indicating the state of the print apparatusin the information indicating the print result.

110 113 300 110 100 300 110 200 305 110 200 113 110 200 113 200 2 135 310 b b 2 FIG. When the processorexecuting the support Appacquires the information indicating the print result in step S, the processordisplays the information indicating the print result on the terminal device. In addition, when acquiring information indicating the print result in step S, the processortransmits the information to the print information management server(step S). That is, the processornotifies the print information management serverof success or failure of printing in the print apparatus by the function of the second processing section. In addition, the processornotifies the print information management serverof the state of the print apparatus by the function of the second processing section. The print information management serverstores the received information indicating the print result in association with the second data Dstored in step Sof(step S).

4 FIG. 400 200 200 400 3 2 2 3 400 2 300 400 300 300 200 200 400 2 3 300 400 Although not illustrated in, when the user of the second terminal deviceactivates the browsing application and instructs synchronization with the print information management server, the print information accumulated in the print information management serverand the print information stored in the second terminal deviceare synchronized with each other, and a list of the third data D, which is a thumbnail image, is displayed. When the user selects a thumbnail of which the details thereof are to be checked from the displayed list, information indicating the print result corresponding to the second data Dis displayed on the display together with the second data Dcorresponding to the selected third data D. In this way, since the print control program has the function of transmitting the information indicating success or failure of printing, the user of the second terminal devicecan recognize success or failure of printing corresponding to the displayed second data D. In addition, since the print control program has the function of transmitting information indicating a state of the print apparatus, the user of the second terminal devicecan recognize information, such as an error occurring in the print apparatus. Note that, as the information indicating success or failure of printing or the information indicating a state of the print apparatus, for example, when information indicating that printing has failed due to a paper jam in the middle of a print job is transmitted to the print information management server, the print information management servercan provide a service using an image of a page for which printing has been completed. For example, in the browsing application of the second terminal device, an image of a page for which printing has been completed is displayed using the second data Dor the third data Dof the page, and a page for which printing has not been completed is displayed as a gray image. In this way, the user can recognize that the print job has failed in the middle since a page of a gray image is included. In addition, for example, by displaying a reason why the printing is not completed in association with the page of the gray image, the user can recognize information, such as an error. Since it is possible to guide the information by using the image of the page, for example, it is more convenient for the user than a case where the success or failure of printing or the state of the print apparatusis simply guided by character information. For example, it is easy for the user of the second terminal deviceto determine that pages essential for the user have been printed and thus the remaining pages may be left as printing failure, or to determine that the essential pages have not been printed and thus need to be printed again by another print apparatus.

113 110 200 110 160 121 110 1 150 200 110 115 200 300 310 110 200 305 b 2 FIG. 4 FIG. Furthermore, by the function of the second processing section, the processornotifies the print information management serverof the progress of the first data generation process. In, step Sto step Sare processes performed on a page-by-page basis. When the print target dataincludes a plurality of pages, the processoracquires information indicating a latest page number for which generation of the first data Dof step Shas been completed, and transmits the acquired information to the print information management server. Alternatively, the processoracquires information indicating the latest page number for which spooling has been completed in step S, and transmits the acquired information to the print information management server. Alternatively, in a case where step Sto step Sofare also performed on a page-by-page basis, the processormay notify the print information management serverof the progress of printing by transmitting a latest page number for which printing has been completed in step S.

200 200 400 2 3 In this way, when the print information management serveris notified of the progress of printing, the print information management servercan provide a service using an image of a page for which printing has been completed. For example, in the browsing application of the second terminal device, images of pages for which printing has been completed may be displayed using the second data Dor the third data Dof the pages, and pages after the last page for which printing has been completed may be displayed, for example, as gray images. In this way, the user can recognize the pages for which the printing has been completed by the images of the pages.

The above embodiment is an example for embodying the present disclosure, and various other embodiments may be adopted. For example, the print control program may be applied not only to Windows® but also to application programs for extending a function of a general-purpose printer driver in various OSs.

In a case where the first data is in a raster format indicating color information for each pixel, the color information may be indicated by, for example, a grayscale value of an RGB3-channel, or may be indicated by a grayscale value for each ink color of a target print apparatus. Alternatively, the color information may indicate whether an ink droplet is discharged or indicate a size of an ink droplet for each pixel.

300 200 The second data may be data in the second data format that is generated from the print target data and has a smaller data size than the first data. The second data may be vector data generated based on the print target data. The second data may be data in a PDF format, an XPS format, an SVG format, or the like. The second data format is not limited to a vector format. For example, the second data format may be the JPEG format, and the second data may be data in the JPEG format. Therefore, for example, the first data in the raster format may be transmitted to the print apparatus, and the data in the JPEG format may be transmitted to the print information management server.

113 2 200 3 3 200 3 3 3 b The second processing sectionmay transmit at least the second data Dto the print information management server, and the generation of the third data Dand the transmission of the third data Dto the print information management servermay be omitted. When the third data Dis generated, the third data Dmay be generated for all the pages included in the print job, or the third data Dmay be generated for only a first page of the print job, for example.

2 3 113 200 200 100 100 300 200 b In addition to the second data Dand the third data D, the second processing sectionmay transmit various types of information related to the printing of the print target data to the print information management serverand cause the print information management serverto store the information. For example, the identification information and an IP address of the terminal device, a date and time when a print request is received from the user in the terminal device, the identification information of the user who requests the printing, a date and time when the printing is completed in the print apparatus, and the like may also be transmitted to the print information management server.

113 300 100 100 100 111 112 113 112 200 130 300 2 2 300 2 b 1 FIG. 2 FIG. Furthermore, the second processing sectionmay be configured to notify the print information management server of the identification information of the print apparatus. In the configuration example illustrated in, the single print apparatusand the single terminal deviceare illustrated, but there may be a plurality of print apparatuses that can be used by the terminal device. When the user of the terminal devicemakes a print request for a file opened by the application, the user selects a print apparatus as an output destination by the general-purpose printer driver. The support Appacquires information indicating the print apparatus of the output destination from the general-purpose printer driver, and also transmits the information indicating the print apparatus of the output destination to the print information management serverin step Sof. Since the print control program has such a function, it is possible to provide the server with the identification information of the print apparatusthat has executed the printing corresponding to the second data D. The second data Dand the identification information of the print apparatusassociated with the second data Dmay be used, for example, by an administrator for investigation when information leakage occurs in a company organization.

112 113 1 300 113 200 In addition to the method in which the user selects one specific print apparatus as the print apparatus of the output destination by the general-purpose printer driver, a configuration may be adopted in which a group including a plurality of print apparatuses of the same type can be selected. When the user selects the group as the print apparatus of the output destination, the support Appmay select a printable print apparatus (for example, a print apparatus that is not in a printing state, is not stopped due to an error, or has a sufficient number of remaining printing media or a sufficient amount of remaining ink) from among the print apparatuses included in the group, and may transmit the first data Dto the selected print apparatus to cause the selected print apparatus to perform printing. In this case, the identification information of the print apparatusselected as the output destination by the support Appis transmitted to the print information management server.

200 113 200 300 113 113 1 300 300 1 300 b a b The administrator of the organization may register the identification information of the print apparatus permitted to perform printing in the print information management serverin advance. In this case, the second processing sectionmay inquire of the print information management serverwhether the identification information of the print apparatusto be used for printing has been registered in advance, and the first processing sectionmay acquire a result of the inquiry from the second processing sectionand transmit the first data Dto the print apparatuswhen the identification information of the print apparatushas been registered in advance and may not transmit the first data Dto the print apparatuswhen the identification information has not been registered.

5 FIG. 6 FIG. 5 FIG. 2 FIG. 5 FIG. 125 2 3 113 113 300 200 2 3 400 200 200 113 200 113 405 200 300 2 3 135 For example,illustrates a sequence example in a case where registration has been performed, andillustrates a sequence example in a case where registration has not been performed. As illustrated in, as in step Sof, when the second data Dand the third data Dare generated by the support App, the support Apptransmits the identification information of the print apparatusof the output destination to the print information management servertogether with the second data Dand the third data D(step S). The print information management serverdetermines whether the received identification information has been registered in the print information management server, and returns a result of the determination to the support App. In, when the query result (determination result) indicates that the received identification information has been registered, the print information management serverreturns the determination result indicating the registration to the support App(step S). In the print information management server, the identification information of the print apparatusof the output destination is also stored together with the second data Dand the third data Din the storage process of step S.

405 113 150 110 1 150 1 300 155 300 160 2 FIG. When receiving the determination result indicating that registration has been performed in step S, the support Appexecutes step Sand the subsequent steps as in. That is, the processorgenerates the first data D(step S), and transmits the generated first data Dto the print apparatuswhich is determined to be registered and selected as the output destination by the user (step S). As a result, printing is executed by the print apparatus(step S).

405 200 110 150 200 405 110 410 6 FIG. 5 6 FIGS.and On the other hand, as illustrated in step Sof, in a case where the determination result returned from the print information management serverindicates that the registration has not been performed, the processordoes not perform the suspended processes of step Sand the subsequent steps. Therefore, when the sequences illustrated inare employed, it is possible to prevent printing using a print apparatus that is not registered in the print information management serverin advance. In response to the query result of step S, the processordisplays a message indicating that printing may not be performed because printing is not permitted in the print apparatus selected by the user (step S).

6 FIG. 6 FIG. 2 3 121 200 135 2 3 400 135 200 2 3 400 2 Note that, as illustrated in, even when printing may not be performed because the selected print apparatus is not registered, the second data Dand the third data Dfor browsing the print target dataare transmitted to and stored in the print information management server(step S), and thus the user can view the second data Dand the third data Dby using the browsing application in the second terminal device. Note that, in the case of the example illustrated in, in step S, the print information management servermay be configured to store information indicating that printing may not be performed because the print apparatus selected by the user is not a registered print apparatus in association with the second data Dand the third data D, and to display the information when the user of the second terminal devicebrowses the second data D.

2 FIG. 1 113 2 113 a b In, generation and transmission of the first data Dof an M-th page (M is a positive integer of 1 or more) to be printed (first processing section) and generation and transmission of the second data Dof the M-th page (second processing section) may be performed such that the latter is performed before the former, at least portions thereof may be performed in parallel, or the former may be performed before the latter. However, the latter is performed before the former in the following case.

113 1 300 2 200 200 2 3 135 200 113 600 113 150 600 1 2 200 200 200 2 200 2 200 a 7 FIG. 2 FIG. 2 FIG. 2 FIG. Specifically, the first processing sectionmay be configured to transmit the first data Dto the print apparatuswhen the transmission of the second data Dto the print information management serveris completed.illustrates a modification of the print sequence of. A difference from the print sequence illustrated inis that, after the print information management serverstores the second data Dand the third data Din step S, a notification indicating that the storing is completed is returned from the print information management serverto the support App(step S). The support Appis different from that in the sequence ofin that step Sand the subsequent processes are performed in response to the notification made in step S. Even when the print job includes a plurality of pages, the transmission of the first data Dof the M-th page is performed after the second data Dof the M-th page is transmitted to and stored in the print information management server. If a configuration in which printing is performed regardless of whether the storage in the print information management serveris completed is adopted, in a case where communication with the print information management serveris not available, printing is completed even though print information, such as the second data D, is not stored in the print information management server. In this case, the print information may not be stored, and information leakage may not be sufficiently tracked. Since the print control program has such a function, it is possible to prevent printing from being executed before the second data Dis accumulated in the print information management server.

Furthermore, the above-described contents are also established as a disclosure of a terminal device that executes a print control program. In this case, the terminal device includes a first processing section that transmits, in response to a print request for print target data, first data in a first data format generated based on the print target data to a print apparatus, and a second processing section that transmits second data to a print information management server in response to the print request, the second data being generated based on the print target data and being in a second data format having a smaller data size than the first data.

In addition, the above contents are also established as a disclosure of a print control method. In this case, the print control method includes transmitting from a first processing section, in response to a print request for print target data, first data in a first data format generated based on the print target data to a print apparatus, and transmitting from a second processing section, second data to a print information management server in response to the print request, the second data being generated based on the print target data and being in a second data format having a smaller data size than the first data.

The system, the program, and the method described above may be realized as a single apparatus or may be realized by using components included in a plurality of apparatuses, and thus include various forms. Moreover, the configuration can be appropriately changed in such a manner that a portion of the configuration is software and a portion of the configuration is hardware. In addition, the disclosure may also be realized as a recording medium for recording a program for controlling the system. Undoubtedly, the recording medium for recording the program may be a magnetic recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and any recording medium to be developed in the future may be considered in the same manner.